Furnace-grate.



H. A. POPPENHUSEN.

FURNACE GRATE.

APPLICATION FILED mmzs. 1909.

961,528. Patented June 14, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ANDREW B GRAN/WI co, FNOTOVLWHOGRAPHERS. wnsumumu, ac.

H. A. POPPENHUSEN.

FURNACE GRATE. APPLICATION FILED JAN.23. 1909.

Patehted June 14,1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Illlll 19R 0 JAM H. A. POPPENHUSEN. FURNACE GRATE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23 1909.

961,528, Patented June 14, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET S.

HERMAN A. POPPENHUSEN, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

FURNACE- GRATE.

Application filed January 23, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN A. POPPEN- HUSEN, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnace- Grates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in furnace grates of that class in which the fuel supplied to the front of the grate is caused to travel or move inwardly thereon during the process of combustion, and more especially to that kind of such grates in which the supporting surface thereof consists of two sets of grate-bars extending from front to rear of the furnace, with the bars of one set arranged in alternation with the bars of the other set and in which the bars of both sets are given rising and falling and endwise movement to effect the advance of the fuel resting on the grate.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrat ing my invention :Figure 1 is a view in central, vertical, longitudinal section of a furnace equipped with a grate embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail plan view of the forward and rear ends of the grate-bars together with the means for actuating said grate-bars. Fig. 3 is a detail section taken upon line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 is a detail section taken upon line t4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail section taken upon line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Fig. (3 is a detail section illustrating the means for supporting the rear ends of the grate-bars, the section being taken upon line 66 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken upon line 7*? of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a grate-bar of modified form. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view showing the supporting means for the rear end of the form of grate-bar shown in Fig. 8. Figs. 10 and 11 are views showing modified forms of supporting means for the rear end of the gratebar shown in Figs. 1 to 7. Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail sectional view of parts of the forward end of the grate, illustrating the forward end of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1910.

Serial No. 473,874.

one of the grate-bars and its actuating means in side elevation and other parts in vertical section. Fig. 13 is a detail plan View of the parts shown in Fig. 12 taken on line 1313 of said Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a detail side view of one end of the supporting girder shown in Fig. 12.

As shown in said drawings, 5 indicates the front wall of a furnace, provided with a fuel-feed opening 6, and with a hopper 7 through which fuel is fed to said opening.

8 indicates a horizontal plate forming the bottom surface of the feed opening 6 and over which the fuel is fed to the forward end of the grate.

9 indicates a transverse, supporting beam or girder, located at the rear end of the grate, which extends transversely between the side walls of the furnace and by which the rear end of the grate is supported.

10, 10 indicate the grate-bars which extend from front to rear of the furnace and which are arranged side by side with narrow spaces between them for the passage of air to the fuel. The several grate-bars are shown in the drawings as being inclined downwardly at a slight inclination from the front toward the rear of the furnace. Said grate-bars need not be so inclined or they may be inclined reversely, or at a greater or less inclination, than those shown.

Devices are provided at the front of the furnace for giving rising and falling, and also endwise, movement to the forward ends of said grate-bars, said devices being substantially like those shown in an application for patent filed by Joseph Harrington, on the second day of March 1909, Serial No. 4e73,892. Said actuating devices embrace a rotative shaft 12 which extends horizontally across the front of the furnace, outside of the front wall 5 thereof, and is provided with a plurality of eccentrics 13, 13 which are severally arranged in alinement with the grate-bars 10, 10. The alternate eccentrics are severally arranged on the said shaft, so that the alternate grate-bars 10, 10 will have opposite movement; one set of said bars being advanced and lifted while the other or intermediately arranged set is being retracted and lowered. Said eccentrics operate upon the grate-bars through the medium of the yoke members 1 1, 14: which are attached to the forward ends of the gratebars and constitute forward extensions thereof. Associated with said actuating devices is a transverse supporting beam or girder 15 which extends across the front of the furnace beneath the yoke members and forward of the eccentrics. Said supporting girder is so mounted in the walls of the furnace that it may be vertically adjusted and acts to limit the downward movement of the forward ends of the several grate-bars, as set forth in said Harrington application hereinbefore referred to. Said supporting girder 15 is shown (Fig. 14:) provided at each end with an upward extending rod 15 which is adjustably connected at its upper end with a fixed part on the front wall of the furnace, by means affording vertical adjustment of said rod, as fully described in said Harrington application, and as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 12 of the drawings.

The fuel-feed plate 8 is shown provided at its rear edge with a depending flange 16 with which is associated a series of vertically swinging gates 17, 17 located severally above, and adapted for rising and falling movement with, the yoke members 14, 14f

Said gates serve to keep closed against the passage of air the space between the plate 8 and the yoke members. They are like those shown in said Harrington application and constitute no part of the present invention.

In the operation of the parts described, the shaft 12 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow inthe drawings, so that the grate-bars constituting each set of bars will be advanced when in their elevated position and retracted when in their depressed position; and the layer or body of fuel which rests on the said grate-bars, being supported on the two sets of bars in alternation and being carried rearwardly when sustained by the bars which are at any particular time elevated above the intermediate bars and are moving rearwardly, as set forth in said Harrington application.

Now referring to the matters constituting features of my invention, each of the said grate-bars 10 is compound in structure and embraces two connected, longitudinally arranged parts the rear ends of which are adapted for rising and falling swinging or vibratory movement one with respect to the other, said grate-bars being associated with means adapted to produce such relative rising and falling movement, operating through the endwise movement of the bars. The two parts of each bar are, in the preferred construction illustrated, connected at their forward ends by a movable or pivotal connection whereby the parts of the bar are held from relative endwise movement, and the actuating devices for giving relative rising and falling or vibratory movement are associated with the supporting means by which the rear ends of the grate-bars are sustained.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, the main part or body of said bar 10 consists of two parallel side pieces or members rigidly connected at their ends and formin a longitudinal slot or opening, in which is located a separate longitudinal member or section 20 which constitutes a part of the fuel supporting surface of the bar and the rear end of which has rising and falling movement with respect to the rear end of said main part or body of the bar. construction shown in Fig. 8, a grate-bar 21 is shown, the body or main part of which consists of a single longitudinal member, at one side of which is longitudinally arranged a section 22 the rear end of which is adapted for rising and falling movement relatively to the rear end of the said body or main part. In other words, in the form of bar shown in Figs. 1 to 8, the bar consists of three longitudinal members, one of which is movable at its rear end with respect to the other two, while in the construction shown in Fig. 8, the bar consists of two longitudinal members, one of which is movable at its rear end with respect to the other. In both cases the movable section is loosely or pivotally connected at its forward end with the forward end of the body or main portion of the bar, so that its rear end is adapted to have swinging or vibratory motion with respect to the rear end of the said body or main portion.

Now referring to the details of construction in the grate-bars, shown in said Figs. 1 to 7, the movable section 20 of each grate-bar is connected at its forward end with the forward end of the main portion 10 of the bar by means of a transverse horizontal pivot pin 23, (Fig. 3). Said pivot pin is shown (Fig. 8) as consisting of a straight cylindric rod secured in the intermediate or movable member 20 by means of a set screw 24. The main part or body of the bar 10 is provided at its side margins with depending, longitudinal stiffening flanges, and the section 20 of the bar has a central, longitudinal, depending stiffening rib or flange, making the same of T-shape in cross-section.

Rising and falling movement is given to the rear end of said section 20 relatively to that of the body of the bar, in the construction shown in said Figs. 1 to 8, by means as follows :The supporting girder 9 is provided at its top with a plurality of tracks or ways 80, 30 on which rest rollers 31, 31 by which the rear ends of the grate-bars 10, 10 and of the movable members 20, 20 are sustained; said rollers being adapted for rolling contact both'with said tracks or ways and with the under surfaces of the grate-bars and the movable sections thereof. Said tracks or ways 30, 30 have horizontal top or bearing In the modified surfaces on which rest the said rollers and the grate-bars 10 are provided with downwardly facing bearing surfaces 32, 32 at their rear-ends which are inclined upwardly and rearwardly so that said grate-bars have rising and falling movement as saidbars are moved backward and forward by the opera tion of the actuating devices at their forward-ends, as hereinbefore described. The movable sections 20 have at their rearends downwardly and rearwardly inclined bearing surfaces 33, 33 which rest on said rollers and by which the rear ends of the movable sections are also given movement in a direction reversely to that of the rear ends of the main parts of the bars, the rear end-s of the said sections rising when the ends of the main parts of the bars descend, and vice versa. Thesaid tracks or ways are shown as arranged in setsofgroups ofthree each, one for each grate-bar. Each roller is approximately equal in length :to the :width of the asociated bar and rests-at its ends on the two outermost tracks of the group, :and at its middle :part on the middletrack of the group. The bearing surfaces of the main part of the bar areformed on the depending, lateral flanges of the bar and engage the end portions of the roller, while the bearing surface for themovable section is formed on the central, depending flange thereof, and engages the middle portion of the roller. Said roller is, moreover, provided with grooves to receive the said tracks and flanges which are tapered to form narrow edges for engagement with said grooves. "Said tracks have the form of laterally separated ribs having open spaces between them to prevent accumulation of ashes between the supporting girder .and the rollers. .Said supporting girder is shown asprovided with forward and rearward web portions 35, 36 between the upper margins ofwhich extend the ribs which form said tracks or ways. The .rearmost web 36 is inclined downwardlyand forwardly,pto defiectashes away from the lower part of the girder, as set forth in said Harrington application, hereinbefore referred to.

The rear end of the main part of the grate-bar is adapted to rest by gravity on the roller which supports it. The movable section 20-is made of forked form at its rear end, so as to form a slot to receive the roller. In other words, said section 20 is providedat its rear end with adownwardly and rearwardly extending arm 37, the upper end of which is parallel with the inclined bearing surface 33, and which engages the. under surfaceof the roller, so that any ver- Y tical shifting movement of the rear end of said :movable section with respect to the roller is prevented.

in the operation of the parts thus con- 5 structed, it is manifest that in the rearward movement of each bar '10, its rear end will rise by the action of its lower bearing sur faces 32, 32 on the roller, while the rear end of the -movable section thereof will descend by the action of its reversely inclined bearing surface 33 .on said roller. In the forward movement of the grate-bar, a reverse action will take place, the rear end of the body of the bar descending and the rear end of the movable section rising. Relative vibratory movement will thereby be given to the lower ends of the body of theibar and the movable section. By such relative vibratory movement of the two parts or members constituting each grate-bar, the fuel resting on the grate will be shaken or agitated, so as to effect therdisc-harge of ashes through the spaces between the grate-bars, and through the spaces between the movable section and body of each bar. By the pivoted or flexible connection of each movable section with the body of the grate-bar, at the forward ends of the same, maximum relative :movement between the movable section and thebar takes place at the rear end of each grate-bar and practically *no such relative movement occurs at its forward end. It will be manifest that, inthe operationof a grate such as above described, combustion of the fuel will continue as the layer of fuel is moved rearwardly on the grate and the fuel will be practically consumed when it reaches "the rear part of the grate, sothat the part of the layer at the rear end of the grate will :consist substantially of burned-out fuel or ashes. It follows that the maximum shaking or agitating effect will be produced at the place where it is most needed, to wit, at the rear end of the grate where the quantityof ashes is greatest. Fig. 9 shows the roller form of support for thetwo parts of the grate-bar, adapted for use in connection with the two-part form of bar shown in Fig. :8. Inthis instance the girder '9 is provided with two ribs 30, 30 forming tracks or ways for each grate-bar, and the roller31 for each gratesbar has-two grooves, engaged severally by the main part .and movable section of the bar.

In order to secure the desired .relative vibratory movement between the body of each grate -.bar and the movable section thereof, it is not-necessary that'both of said and thevrear end ofthe intermediate section 20Ihas rising andfalling movement. Inthis the same as that of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7.

So far as the general operation of the structure described in the shaking or agitation of the fuel is concerned, it is manifestly unnecessary that the rear ends of the bars and movable sections thereof should be supported upon rollers as shown in the figures of the drawing hereinbefore referred to. As for instance, a support for the rear ends of said grate-bars may be employed, such as is shown in Fig. 11, wherein the downward facing bearing surfaces upon the rear ends of the grate-bars and movable sections rest upon an upwardly rounded or convex top surface 41 formed on a supporting girder 40.

It will be understood that a structure embodying my invention may be embodied in various forms,diifering in detail from those illustrated and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited to the specific features of construction shown in said drawings, except so far as the same may be claimed in the appended claims as parts of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a furnace, of a grate comprising a plurality of grate-bars extending from front to rear of the furnace, each of said grate-bars embracing two longitudinally arranged members pivotally connected with each other at the forward end of the bar, means acting severally on the forward ends of the bars, acting to give endwise reciprocatory and rising and falling motion to the forward ends of both members of each bar, supporting means for the rear ends of the bars affording a supporting surface for each member of each bar, and means operated by the endwise movement of each bar, acting in connection with the supporting surface to give rising and falling vibratory motion to the rear end of one of said members relatively to the rear end of the other member of the bar.

2. The combination with a furnace, of a grate comprising a plurality of grate-bars extending from front to rear of the furnace, each of said grate-bars embracing two longitudinally arranged members pivotally connected with each other at the forward ends of the bar, means acting severally on the forward ends of the bars acting to give endwise reciprocatory and rising and falling motion to the forward ends of both members of each bar, supporting means for the rear ends of the bars affording a rounded suporting surface for each member of each bar, one of the members of each bar being provided with a downwardly facing oblique bearing surface acting on said rounded supporting surface in the endwise movement of said member to produce rising and falling movement of the rear end of said member.

3. The combination with a furnace, of a grate comprising a plurality of grate-bars extending from front to rear of the furnace, each of said gratebars embracing two longitudinally arranged members pivotally connected with each other at the forward end of the bar, means acting severally on the forward ends of the bars acting to give endwise reciprocatory and rising and falling motion to the forward ends of both members of each bar, supporting means for the rear ends of the bars afiording a rounded supporting surface for the rear end of each member of each bar, the members of each bar being provided with downwardly facing, oblique bearing surfaces acting on said rounded supporting surface to produce rising and falling movement on the rear ends of both members, said bearing surfaces on the two members being oppositely inclined.

4. The combination with a furnace, of a grate comprising a plurality of grate-bars extending from front to rear of the furnace,

each of said grate-bars embracing two longi- I tudinally arranged members pivotally con-, nected with each other at the forward end of the bar, means acting severally on the forward ends of the bars, acting to give endwise reciprocatory and rising and falling motion to the forward end of each member of each bar, a transversely extending support for the rear ends of said bars, and rollers mounted and rolling on said support, each of said rollers being arranged to sustain the rear ends of the members of each bar, and at least one member of each bar being provided with a downwardly facing, oblique bearing surface acting on its associated supporting roller to give rising and falling movement to the rear end of said member.

5. The combination with a furnace, of a grate comprising a plurality of'grate-bars extending from front to rear of the furnace, each of said grate-bars embracing two longitudinal members pivotally connected with each other at the forward end of the bar, means actin severally on the forward ends of the bars for giving endwise reciprocatory and rising and falling motion to the forward end of each member of each bar, a transversely extending support for the rear ends of said grate-bars, rollers resting and rolling on said support, one for each bar, the members of each bar being provided with presence of two Witnesses, this 20th day of January A. D. 1909.

HERMAN A. POPPENHUSEN.

Witnesses:

C. CLARENCE POOLE GEORGE R. WILKINS.

downwardly facing oblique bearing surfaces acting on their associated roller to produce rising and falling movement in the rear end of said members, said bearing surfaces on 5 the tWo members being oppositely inclined.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I afiix my signature in the 

